Hong Kong Targets RWA Tokenization Over Next Decade

• Hong Kong plans a 10-year overhaul of capital markets centered on RWA tokenization and digital infrastructure.
• The roadmap prioritizes tokenized issuance, smart contracts, and real-time settlement over standalone products.
• A phased timeline targets listings reform, expanded Connect schemes, and multi-asset tokenized markets.

Hong Kong’s financial authorities have outlined a decade-long strategy aimed at expanding real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and solidifying the city’s digital financial infrastructure, signaling a structured shift in how capital markets may operate in the years ahead.

The Financial Services Development Council (FSDC) detailed the strategy in a concept paper titled Hong Kong Capital Market Leadership Strategy, which frames tokenized finance as a core component of the market’s future architecture. According to the report, RWA-related products could begin emerging within the next two to five years, while broader system upgrades for tokenized issuance, trading, and settlement are envisioned over a 10-year horizon.

The FSDC report places strong emphasis on infrastructure development rather than standalone products. Planned components include tokenization platforms, smart-contract frameworks, and real-time settlement systems designed to support digital issuance and post-trade processes.

Hong Kong enters this phase on a large scale. Assets under management reached HK$35.1 trillion by the end of 2024, and the city continues to rank among the world’s leading international financial centers and global IPO venues. The council notes, however, that competitive pressures are intensifying as other hubs accelerate their own digital-market initiatives and issuer profiles evolve toward pre-profit and innovation-driven firms.

Existing Foundations and Cross-Border Links

The strategy highlights Hong Kong’s existing market strengths, including its Connect schemes, which provide two-way access between mainland Chinese and global investors. Core infrastructure, such as the Central Moneymarkets Unit (CMU), is described as meeting international standards, while the legal and regulatory framework remains internationally aligned and predictable.

Professional services capacity across the banking, asset management, legal, and accounting sectors is also cited as a key pillar of support for future market adaptation.

A Phased Roadmap for Market Development

To structure implementation, the FSDC outlines a phased timeline. In the short term, spanning six to 24 months, possible measures include refining listing channels for pre-profit and IP-intensive companies, strengthening post-listing support, attracting re-listings and dual primary listings, and running controlled pilots of new instruments.

Over the medium term of two to five years, the focus shifts to broadening the ecosystem. This may involve extending Connect schemes beyond equities and bonds, developing private-asset platforms, mobilizing long-duration capital through high-grade fixed income and sustainable finance, and introducing tokenized real assets supported by blockchain-enabled workflows.

In the long term, covering five to 10 years, the council envisions scaled tokenization-enabled issuance, expanded offshore renminbi and debt markets, and the full evolution of Hong Kong into a multi-asset, multi-currency capital formation hub.

The FSDC states that advancing these initiatives in an orderly manner is intended to enhance market competitiveness, support real-economy financing, and reinforce Hong Kong’s role within the global financial system as digital finance infrastructure matures.

Related: Citi Builds a Regulated Custody Services Track for 2026 as RWA Tokenization Grows